Editor,

Holy crow! The list of words describing lawyer theft from clients here in our own little island starts with “disgust.”

We have to trust professionals, whether they are doctors or plumbers, surgeons or neighbors, cops or restaurant cooks.

If nothing else, attorney Doug Saar’s story tells us something about ourselves too. Trust has to be earned and is hard to repair. But being human, we need pathways for redemption.

Are punishment and penalties the best solutions? Since incarceration generally costs as much as the national average salary, it can be worth serious thought.

We have the highest incarceration rates of the industrialized world that sadly accomplishes very little.

It’s a problem our county has conscientious people working on. Our judges instituted diversion programs to find effective and less costly ways to cure criminal behavior. They have rehabilitative drug courts for non-violent offenders, family courts for patching things up and probation workers resolving individual situations.

We have a mentoring program where citizen volunteers work with offenders to encourage and steer them to good citizenship.

Some criminal causes aren’t entirely the individual’s fault. Some stem from mistreatment in youth like schoolyard bullying or dismal parenting.

Our well-publicized Barefoot Bandit is a case in point. Some are due to physical or mental disabilities, or racial and religious ignorance. Some are because of economic disadvantages, or unfair treatment of their parents by an uncaring, mean and competitive society.

There are no simple, one-size-fits-all solutions and to some extent we all have a stake and responsibility in solutions.

Criminals are made, not born.

So how about redemption? It rescues lives from dismal worthlessness and restores people for everyone’s benefit. It saves money and lowers taxes too. Why not rethink redemption versus condemnation and the relationship of competition versus cooperation in our lives?

While competition has its values, nothing is better than being family, community or just good Americans working together for a better world.

Government can be good. Appreciate the work of our law and justice community. Be a part of it.

Support comprehensive schools. Get a Neighborhood Watch in your area.

Al and Barbara Williams

Oak Harbor